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By Lindsey, March 3, 2012 2:31 pm

Director, Jeff Chiba Stearns, has been working on a documentary about mixed ethnicity bone marrow matches. Krissy is featured in this film along with many other mixed, hapa, patients who are still looking for their perfect match. Our good friend Athena, from Mixed Marrow, has been working very hard on this project and we now need to ask for everyone else’s help to get this project funded!

All you need to do is click on this link  http://www.indiegogo.com/Mixed-Match   and choose a contribution amount. Each contribution has a special incentive, so please check it out and help out this great cause! This could be a HUGE eye opener to many more people and could help us get one step closer in finding Krissy her match!! Thanks again for all of your contributions, love, and support!! Krissy really appreciates it!

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By Lindsey, February 22, 2012 3:51 pm

I have gotten a lot of emails asking me about what a person can do if they live outside of the United States. There are donor registries in other countries, however not every country has a registry set-up. The National Marrow Donor Program has connected with a few donor centers located outside of the United States. The donors from these international donor centers are included in a search of the Be The Match Registry. If you are in a country that does not have a donor center, Be The Match cannot manage donor collection from, or provide donor insurance to, prospective donors who would come up as a match.

“We take our donor advocacy role seriously, and are unable to provide donor collection services in other countries,” Stated, Be The Match Recruitment Director for the West Coast.

However, they understand that some people may still want to help. The advice they give residents of a country who doesn’t have a donor registry, is to make outreach to their health ministry or public health agency and provide reasons for wanting to begin a registry. It’s not an easy task and requires a lot of commitment, but it’s an option. I recently read an article about Nigeria starting up it’s own bone marrow registry and it is clearly something that many countries need help in creating more of. Nigeria Marrow Registry Article

Donor recruitment practices vary among the different international donor centers. Some centers do community recruitment and accept and welcome telephone calls from the public; telephone numbers for those centers are listed below. Other centers recruit donors only through blood banks or similar methods.

For a great list of international donors, please check out Mixed Marrow’s website, where our good friend, Athena, has compiled a very extensive list of international donor centers:

http://mixedmarrow.org/help/international

Here is a list of international donor centers and registries that Be The Match is currently connected with:

This link will direct you to a list of cooperative registries from other countries: http://marrow.org/About/Who_We_Are/NMDP_Network/Cooperative_Registries.aspx

These agencies operate directly under the National Marrow Donor Program/ Be The Match in other countries:

Germany

Knochenmarkspenderzentrale Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf
Telephone: 011 49 (211) 811-9620

DKMS Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei
Tuebingen
Telephone: 011 49 (7071) 943-1310

Israel

Hadassah Medical Organization
Jerusalem
Telephone: 011 972 (2) 643-4035
011 972 (2) 677-7513

Netherlands

Europdonor Foundation
Leiden
Telephone: 011 31 (71) 568-5323

Norway

The Norwegian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
Oslo
Telephone: 011 47 (23) 07-3770

Sweden

The Tobias Registry of Swedish Bone Marrow Donors
Stockholm
Telephone: 011 46 (8) 5858-1381

Here is a list of international donor centers that are contributing the national registry, however might not necessarily be connected directly with Be The Match:

Canada: This can also be found under Athena’s list under Canadian Blood Services

http://www.blood.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/E_ubmdrPKG-intro?OpenDocument&p=OMFormE

Nigeria: launching their second bone marrow registration agency in ALL of Africa on Feb. 24, 2012

http://bmrn.weebly.com/

http://ncdaction.org/profiles/blogs/nigeria-to-launch-its-first-bone-marrow-registry

…and here is the Be The Match list of donor centers within the United States for everyone in the states.

http://marrow.org/Join/Join_in_Person/Recruitment_Centers.aspx

“Together we can make it hapa’n!”

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By Lindsey, February 5, 2012 11:20 pm

I always worry about answering this question because I’m always afraid of the reaction and the effect when I tell people the truth. I know that a lot of people relate to Krissy’s story and that is the reason that they decide to help her. They want to save HER. I am so thankful that there are people in this world who want to help my cousin.

Unfortunately, but also not unfortunately, there is no way to register for one specific patient. I know that if there was a way to do that, I can’t help but think that I may have gotten even more people to register for Krissy.

But hear me out before you change your mind now…

by signing up you sign up to save someone’s LIFE! Krissy is a random stranger who you just happened to come across.. is that much different from the next person’s life you come across through the national registry who just so happens to need their life saved too??? They will still be someone who is in need of help.. they will still be someone who is like you in some way, because you will match them and their ethnicity. Yes, it’s unfortunate that you might not be the one to save my cousin’s life.. but it would definitely never be unfortunate to save anyone’s life if you could. The national registry is a pool of possible life savers. It makes it easier for doctors and patients to find the match they’ve been waiting for in a much easier way. No extra channels to try and search through.. It is all right there in one central location.

So if you are one of those people who are willing to help ONE person like Krissy because she is in need.. Please remember you will most likely only be able to help ONE person in need if any at all and whoever that person may be, you will forever be their only hope to a happy, healthier, longer life.

Register online at: http://marrow.org/Join/Join_Now/Join_Now.aspx

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By Lindsey, December 4, 2011 3:42 pm

It’s been awhile since anyone has updated the website.. because life happened, and like any family, we have challenges popping up left and right that have made it difficult to keep up with everything at once. I do want to thank any of you who have continued to check the site for updates on Krissy and the cause, despite the lack of updates!

So if you aren’t on the mailing list or haven’t seen the recent article in GLAMOUR Magazine!, Krissy is still looking for her match. So keep spreading the word about the need for mixed race bone marrow donors! This cause has become something that I can’t stop talking about with people that I meet for the first time.. and I can’t emphasize more to our blog readers, that the need for bone marrow donors will ALWAYS be so important for people to know about. The registry changes as people get older and the opportunities to find new matches continue to grow as people reach the age of 18 and can register!

Register Online Here: http://marrow.org/Join/Join_Now/Join_Now.aspx?promo_code=

Find it on stands now!

If you haven’t checked out the Glamour Magazine article, it’s in January 2012’s issue on stands now!! so pick up a copy or 2 or 3 and show your friends and family! It is a really wonderful look into Krissy’s experience and who knows maybe it can help a few people out there find their match, including Krissy!! With the holidays quickly approaching, I can’t help but feel the appreciation I have for family, love, and support! Thank you for the wonderful wishes, thoughts, and hope you send our way! Happy Holidays!

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By Lindsey, June 23, 2011 11:41 am

We have been receiving a lot of response to the news about Krissy’s possible match. I’m sorry we haven’t updated you any sooner about her decision. After much thought and debate about the situation with the 9 out of 10 match, Krissy has decided to wait on moving forward with the transplant process. I wanted to clear this up with everyone and let everyone know that we are still looking for her 10 out of 10 match! This weekend we will be holding a drive at the Long Beach Japanese Community Center Carnival! Please continue to keep Krissy in your thoughts and pass the word on about the need for more HAPA bone marrow donors!

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By Lindsey, February 7, 2011 10:09 pm

It’s been a long time since we’ve updated for any of you.. and I’m really really sorry for that… but I write again to bring only the BEST news I could ever bring to this blog!!

Krissy can fill you in with more details about what happened when she gets some time… BUT.. I’m  Soooooo happy to bring the news to you first!    KRISSY FOUND HER MATCH!!!!!!!!!! it’s a 9 out of 10 match. but we will take that!! The City of Hope was going to be contacting her this week to let her know, but she had the appointment today so was told at her appointment! Now we have to wait. There are more tests to run… If her blasts have increased then I think they will start prepping for a bone marrow transplant sooner than later.   If she is stable with no change from last year, then they may have her wait 3 months and re-test then.  Apparently you can “reserve” the donor for up to 3 months so they don’t donate for someone else, and a donor can only donate twice in their lifetime.  Some very important information that really has to be taken into consideration. There are lots of questions that need to be asked and as Krissy gets answers, we will update everyone else.

This is a very exciting time for all of us and we know that Krissy is going to continue to need ALL of your support and thoughts through this new phase in her fight against MDS!

Thank you to everyone for your support, prayers and hard work… We couldn’t have done everything that we have done to find matches for people in need, and ultimately for Krissy, without you! and in the words of my mom (Krissy’s, Auntie Patti) “We’ve found our needle in the haystack”!!

TOGETHER we MADE it Hapa’n!!

-Lindsey

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By Lindsey, December 14, 2010 6:49 pm

Here is a link to help you register to be a marrow donor! http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now/join_now.html Click on the link and use the code:“mixedmarrow30“.

or use the link: join.bethematch.org/mixedmarrow30. The promocode is good through February 8, 2011. It’s open to minorities and multiracial donors, but everyone is encouraged to make a contribution towards the tissue typing costs. If you are a Caucasian donor, please register without the promo code and use this link instead. http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now_Sponsored/join_now_sponsored.html

THANK YOU so much for registering and SEND the link to everyone you know and have them register too!

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By Lindsey, October 19, 2010 11:08 am

Here is a link to help you register to be a marrow donor! http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now/join_now.html Click on the link and use the code:“swabfora3m”. or use the link: join.bethematch.org/swabfora3m. The promocode is good through November. It’s open to minorities and multiracial donors, but everyone is encouraged to make a contribution towards the tissue typing costs. If you are a Caucasian donor, please register without the promo code and use this link instead. http://www.marrow.org/JOIN/Join_Now_Sponsored/join_now_sponsored.html

THANK YOU so much for registering and SEND the link to everyone you know and have them register too!

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By Lindsey, September 15, 2010 12:43 am

http://rafu.com/news/2010/09/bone-marrow-transplants-finding-the-facts/

Check out this link to a new article in the Rafu Shimpo about bone marrow and Krissy.

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By Lindsey, August 25, 2010 11:18 pm

Okay, so I made Team Krissy a Team for the Be The One Run, which will take place in Long Beach in November. NOW you need to go and sign up to be a member of the team! AND you need to tell your friends to sign up as well! Details for signing up and donating money are below.

Be the Match Presents: Be the One Run in Long Beach’s Shoreline Village at Rainbow Harbor

Saturday, November 6, 2010

7 a.m. registration opens

8 a.m. 5K/1K starts

9:15 a.m. Tot Trot starts

Includes a 5K, a 1K Fun Run, and a Tot Trot

$30 Early Registration by OCT. 1

$35 OCT. 2 to Race Day

$10 Tot Trot

For More Information go to:

BeTheOneRun.org

To Join Team Krissy in the run, visit the link below and click on “Join Team” in the box where it lists all of the team members names: http://www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/teamkrissy

To donate money to Team Krissy visit the link below and then click on the link below the picture of our outstanding family and Team Krissy supporters. There will be a pop up page that will give you directions on how to give money to our cause. OR you can help me personally reach my own fundraising goal by clicking on my page link or name on the main Team Krissy page

http://www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/teamkrissy or  http://www.bethematchfoundation.org/goto/lindsey

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